Ph.D. Health Policy & Management
Why did you choose graduate school at IUPUI?
I had been considering a few different programs at IUPUI but ultimately ended up applying to the HPM program sort of last minute. I landed in this great department with supportive faculty and peers and really interesting research. I am very grateful to the faculty members that accepted me into the program as somewhat of a non-traditional applicant. This department has been a great fit for me and the connections the department and school have to the network of other health sciences and services researchers, organizations, and resources have created a lot of unique opportunities for me as a student.
What has been your favorite academic accomplishment since you’ve been here?
During the summer after my first year, Dr. Mazurenko and Dr. Menachemi brought me into a systematic review that they were conducting with a few others outside of the department. The review focused on studies of the effects of the Affordable Care Act’s optional Medicaid expansion. A significant part of the review included identifying and comparing findings by the level of rigor of the included studies which built off of a research design course I was taking at the time with Dr. Menachemi. The review was a phenomenal learning experience and we were able to publish what hopefully will continue to be an impactful paper. Being a part of the project helped me to really dive into the Medicaid literature and identify gaps in the literature that are now guiding my dissertation.
What do you enjoy most about life in Indianapolis?
Indy has been a great city to live in during grad school. It is a manageable size with great restaurants and many unique areas of the city. Not only is Indy a great city with plenty to do, but it is only a few hours from so many other great cities that make great weekend trips!
Please provide some details about your work/research as a graduate student and/or any activities you are involved in.
Throughout the program I’ve been lucky to work with several different faculty members on a variety of different topics including public health systems and services, opioids, and an intervention for nursing homes. Currently, I’m spending much of my time on my dissertation which explores Medicaid administrative costs over time. Additionally, I’ve had the opportunity to TA several courses in our department and have been a part of the AcademyHealth Student Chapter here on campus.